8/10/2015

This place was FANTASTIC!

Total family feel, 100% authentic, and you can tell this place has been around for a while. We ordered the specials of the day: Grilled Calamari and the seafood risotto; they were delicious.
Not only was the food extraordinary, but the service and portions were as well!!

Definitely worth stopping by if you're in the area and looking for some nice home cooked Italian food :)

8/9/2015

Authentic and fantastic! The service, the food and the price was all worth the effort of crazy driving, and hard to find parking. Next time I'll use the $7 valet I think. We arrived at this packed little restaurant that reminded me of an Italian restaurant in a hollywood movie. Some place where half the guests are well known by the staff.

I went with my brother and a few of his friends. My brother got lasagna, I gotta fettuccine with a garlic sauce and chicken. His friends got a seafood special, spaghetti and meatballs and a gnocchi dish. Oh and we had a couple of appetizers, muscles and a shrimp thing over mashed potatoes. Who knew mashed potatoes could be an appetizer or be such a good appetizer? Everyone enjoyed their meals and even though I was I really like mine I was jealous of the gnocchi. I gave it a taste and wished I'd ordered it instead. LOL

I was the only one who saved room for dessert (brought about half my plate back for hubby dear who missed out on the amazingness). I ordered cannoli and got a couple people at the table to try it out.

I'll be back and will bring along hubby next time.

7/19/2015

Small (kinda cramped) hole in the wall in Chicago that has AMAZING Italian food.  We started with grilled and fried calamari.  Both major delicious.  I ordered the chilean sea bass (from the specials) and wow, this was soon good.  If it is on the special list when you go I recommend getting this.  I tried a friend's chicken parm (not on the menu, you have to ask for it) and it was incredible as well.  Service was above par (from making reservations to the servers)

Be warned though:  this place is a little cramped and it is LOUD.  I had a hard time hearing what the people around me were saying.  I had gone in with a splitting headache and this unfortunately didn't help.

7/28/2015 Updated review

I've been going here for three years now and it never disappoints! The food is amazing every time! Please go, order anything, and I guarantee you will return.

• 

  Penne Sinatra again...

  Penne Sinatra again...
• 

  Scarola with sausage, my favorite favorite dish!

  Scarola with sausage, my favorite favorite dish!
• 

  Fried Zucchini

  Fried Zucchini
• See all photos from Danielle S. for La Scarola

7/4/2015

I went after I'd been eating all day, so I got a few plates to share with a friend, and our bill was modest. We left over 20% tip, or tried to, but they helped themselves to 10 TIMES the tip I tried to leave. I mean I guess it's possible it was a typo, but I've never had that happen in years of charging my meals, nor have I ever heard of it happening. The "tip" was more than twice the cost of my meal. And believe me, the service was not that good, and I did not intentionally leave such a tip. Booooo.

As for the food, the lasagna in particular, it was so salty it made my mouth burn. And I'm not especially sensitive to that, I can't think of another time I've ever had that thought about restaurant food. If I want that experience again I'll just go gargle some sea water and save myself the scamming.

A few co-workers recommended it so I tried it for dinner when a friend visited and wanted to do Chicago stuff. Fail.

7/20/2015

Don't believe the hype.  I have been here a couple of times in the past--a friend of mine and I split a $250 gift card at a charity auction.  Dinner for 4 (to my surprise, we went over).  It is my understanding that in the restaurant business, there is a concept called "Chicago Style".  This means pretty decent food, and PLENTY OF IT--that is what they offer here.  The place is a real dump--some may mistake this for charming, but it is not.  Lowest end of chairs, tableware, etc.  Staff is a super professional operation, really hustling in this totally packed  dungeon We were almost seated in the kitchen.Loaded with tourists with bags from American Girl and Macy's due to the location.  There are SO MANY OPTIONS  for this kind of food at this price, why come here?

4/19/2015

As soon as we walked in, I noticed that the restaurant smelled like a musty basement.  Even though La Scarola isn't intended to be a classy, sophisticated establishment, it's still selling edible goods, and the smell was a huge turn off.

The restaurant is teeny tiny, emphasized by the tables crammed together or angled into odd corners.  White paper covers the tables, but the banquet chairs are hideous.  All of this could have been overlooked IF La Scarola served great food.

A lot of reviews noted the bread wasn't fresh from the oven.  We had the same experience.  Although, bread is bread in some cases, and we enjoyed dipping it in the olive oil and parmesan cheese on the table.

The wine list is simple, so I had a Pinot Grigio.

The menu is huge, and all of the dishes delivered to our table looked incredible.  I tried some of Dominic P's pasta with spicy marinara.  It was really tasty and a good, simple dish.  My parents were happy with their ravioli and lasagna as well.

I had the vodka pasta with shrimp and asparagus.  The shrimp were plump and plenty, but the sauce was terrible.  It was creamy, but flavorless.  I didn't eat much of my entree, took the leftovers to go, but ended up tossing the rest.

Perhaps I just ordered the "wrong thing," but considering that I ordered the most expensive entree in our group and didn't like it isn't a good thing.

Service is crap.  The servers were all bustling around, and didn't even move out of our way when we tried to go to the bathroom.  There is no attentiveness.  The bathroom was pathetic and in desperate need of a fresh coat of paint.

Hey, at least we found free street parking.  Give it a shot before you pay for valet.

My personal experience was more like 2-stars, but since the rest of my party gobbled up their food, I guess I'll bump it to a 3.  But with so many Italian restaurants in Chicago and the suburbs, there's no reason to come back - or come at all.

7/12/2015

Totally full of character, nice guy working there, free shots, fun, big portions, food was tasty, an institution.

4/15/2015

So many great things to say about La Scarola.  The food is absolutely amazing. Tastes like it is coming right out of grandmas kitchen.  The wait staff is so helpful and friendly.

We had an 8 pm reservation, when we got there the place was packed.  They nicely told us it would be a few minutes and if we minded waiting at the bar.  Of course we did not so we headed to the bar and got a glass of wine.  The wait was longer than expected, but the owner was very persistent about letting us know it would be just a little bit longer until we sat down.  They had glasses of wine for $7 which is just about impossible to find these days in Chicago, I was a fan.

We ordered the grilled octopus to start which was divine. We got the big rigatoni special and the spaghetti and meatballs to share.  Both were amazing. I will absolutely be returning to La Scarola

• 

  Grilled octopus

  Grilled octopus
• 

  Spaghetti and meatballs

  Spaghetti and meatballs
• 

  Rigatoni special

  Rigatoni special

7/13/2015

What is happening to La Scarola?
Closed for lunches?
So dissapointed. I have to say the last 2 times we order take out the sauce on the entrees was watery, and tasteless. This has been one of my old time favorite restaurants but ls been dissaponting this past year. The inside of the restaurant  is looking run down and dirty to be honest with you, it makes you not want to go in at all.
I have to beg my friends to go there now. I miss you La Scarola...  sight.

Needs remodeling ASAP.
Need new energetic happy staff (New!! All new.) needs the owner in the kitchen like he used to be. He has the magic touch.
Needs some tlc and food consistency. Please. I want to go back...!

12/3/2014

I came here with a group of nine for a friend's farewell dinner on a Saturday. The restaurant gets very packed on the weekend, but they did a good job accommodating such a big party.

All of the dishes were very generous portions and everyone seemed to enjoy what they ordered. I got the Eggplant Parmigiana. It was pretty good - nothing exceptional. The eggplant was cooked all the way through and there was a good amount of cheese on top. My husband, on the other hand, got the Veal Mondelli. It was sooo delicious, I contemplated stealing his dish. The veal was pounded into thin medallions, sautéed with mushrooms and zucchini. It also came with a side of pasta. He was able to get the angle hair pasta as a side, and it went really well with the dish. I think I ate about half of his dinner. I'll be going back just to get that dish for myself. It was very delicious!

• 

  Eggplant parmigiana

  Eggplant parmigiana

7/1/2015

Was here 10 years ago on our honeymoon and came back recently for our 10 year anniversary.  Still fantastic!  Talked with Joey the owner who always seems to be there looking it over.  He did a shot with us and all was perfect.

• 

  The table from our honeymoon. Cozy!!!

  The table from our honeymoon. Cozy!!!

8/4/2015

I absolutely love the pasta at this joint! They do some traditional pasta that is delicious as well as some coloring outside of the lines. My favorite unique pasta here was the jalapeño pesto. Never disappointed here.

8/5/2015

Food was great. The drinks were also really well done. If you're into Mediterranean food, I would definitely check this place out.

8/19/2014

As far as Italian food goes, I can't say I have had much that was better than La Scarola. The walk in to the restaurant is a little intimidating- packed with people, cramped space, and you feel like everyone is looking at you as you walk by.

We had an 8pm reservation, and they had the appropriate sized table ready for us when we got there. We loved looking at all the pictures on the wall of famous, and not famous people who came to the restaurant. There was such a sense of pride in their restaurant. It definitely gave off that Italian family, old school vibe.

Waters arrived quickly, as did someone to take drink orders. Beer selection is limited, but there was a nice wine selection.

Large baskets of crusty Italian bread then arrived, which was good, but not hot out of the oven like I've experienced elsewhere. For apps, we tried the mussels, grilled and fried calamari, and the shrimp armani. I'd never had mussels before, and they were good, nothing I would think to order again, but my table deemed them the best mussels they'd ever had. The shrimp armani was so fantastic- huge shrimp over delectable mashed potatoes in a red sauce... mmmmmmm.... and the fried calamari was the best I'd ever had too! I did not try the grilled-- looked "too real" for me. My table said it was good, albeit a little too chewy.

For the main course, I stuck with bowtie pasta with meatballs. A giant portion was given with 3 garlicky, perfect meatballs. It totaled up to 3 meals over a few days for me! Everyone else loved their dinners too, and everyone left with extras. Prices were very reasonable for what you got.

The owner took time to speak to everyone there. He seemed to have some favorites who were given free shots, but alas, that was not us.

Overall, it was a truly different but amazing Italian dining experience. I would go back in a heartbeat. On the way out, I realized that even though it is cramped, everyone was focused on their fantastic food and could care less at who was walking by! Thanks for a great night!!

• 

  Bow tie pasta w meatballs

  Bow tie pasta w meatballs
• 

  Shrimp Armani, mussels, fried calamari

  Shrimp Armani, mussels, fried calamari
• 

  Italian flare

  Italian flare

7/28/2015

Went there for dinner this past Saturday and it's by far the best Italian food I've had. So good. The owner was having dinner across from us with his friends and you could tell it was a genuine family Italian restaurant.

5/12/2015

Service was friendly, food was not as good as it used to be 5+ years ago. Spaghetti with meatballs was not good; tasted strange and had some kind of herb or spice that did not belong in the sauce or meatballs. Clam linguini was a tad salty and clam were chewy. Very mediocre Italian food. Bread was hard and dry; we got the old ends.

• 

  Salty linguini, chewy clams-not very good either.

  Salty linguini, chewy clams-not very good either.
• 

  Dry spaghetti and not so good meatballs. Did not taste right.

  Dry spaghetti and not so good meatballs. Did not taste right.

11/24/2014

Great family style Italian restaurant in my neighborhood that helps avoid the tourist attraction chaos.

I had the gnocchi primavera and it is a rich but delicious dish that you have to try!!

I also had a nibble or two of the grilled calamari and octopus which were fresh and cooked to perfection.

Don't miss out on this traditional gem if you're craving real authentic Italian food with the ambiance of family and friends built right in!

7/3/2015

So maybe I hit them on an off night, but I grew up in NY eating Italian food and this was just not that good. Had and anitpasto appetizer as well as sausages and peppers both were unexceptional; the sausage and peppers were particularly underwhelming. Not bad, just not that good, I could have done better at home. For entrees, my Chicken Angelo had a listless marsala sauce that just lacked any sort of flavor. My date had the Capelini Fra Diavolo, also listless, lacking any punch. The portions were big, but that was sort of besides the point, given the food was not that great. Dinner was capped by a cannoli that made me regret blowing the calories. So I could see one dish being a miss, but this was pretty consistent across the board; I won't be back.

7/12/2015

The service was too notch and so was the food. It was too many of us to name the foods that was order.

4/18/2015

We had a 7:30 reservation and ended up waiting 45 minutes for our table to be ready. Luckily it was a beautiful night and we weren't in a rush. However, there was little apology on their end about the long wait. The server was also trying to rush us out of our table, which considering how long it took us to get one is a bit absurd.

In terms of the food. My boyfriend had the steak and he said it was good, but a little overdone. I and the Salmon Mondellini and it was very good but didn't have enough risotto in my opinion. The wine selection was fantastic. We had 3 bottles and they were great and reasonably priced.

The ambiance was crowded and vey loud. Not a good spot for wanting to actually have a conversation. The food was definitely good but I recommend Mia Francesa over La Scarola any day of the week. And they never responded to my email confirming my reservation time.

5/18/2015

Definitely make reservations.  Came here last year in November with my boyfriend for his birthday.  Large food portions.  Lively, loud atmosphere; it was almost completely packed when we went.  The place is covered in photos and memorabilia of famous people, etc.  The bar was pretty cool.  The specials are handwritten on a paper that's inserted into their laminated menu and I thought that was awesome.  Makes the experience feel personal.

We ordered the Chicken Vesuvio, Pasta Primavera, and fried zucchini for appetizer.  Pretty good.  Again, LARGE PORTIONS!!!  We had the leftovers for breakfast the day after and it was still good.  Great service.  Will definitely come back another time when it's not so busy.  Wish I could find pictures of the food that I took then.

11/3/2014

Yep! It's tasty and filling. It's the type of place where you eat half your plate, take the other half home, and then immediately undo your belt buckle to free up some space for your gut.

This is just like the restaurants my family went to when I was a small boy. Now I'm a big boy, and I eat at these places on business trips. Hee-hee!!

I love that every Italian in history has his or her face plastered on the walls. I think it's dumb that there are no Italian-Americans working here.  I guess if they only hired Italian looking people that would be a discriminatory practice. The ACLU would be all over this place. Oh well. Maybe if the waiters sang O' Sole Mio I wouldn't notice they're not cugini.

Keep it real, Scarola. Scarola is escarole. So, that's pretty Italian. Nice work!

• 

  Pollo Italiano!!

  Pollo Italiano!!
• 

  Tommy Lasorda!!!

  Tommy Lasorda!!!

4/19/2015

Good food, second class everything else.

Came here on Friday after work with a friend. I called ahead and made a 7:30 reservation, but at 7:30 when my friend showed  they said there was a wait and to go next door and they would text us. An hour later they still hadn't texted and I walked back over. The host said he told my friend we should have returned in 10 minutes because our table had been and was now ready. I got seated and texted my friend and he came by, and confronted the host about the fact he said he would text us when our table was ready. The host said he knew but he had lost my number. Great so he lied, ARGH. Whatever, dude sent over free shots of tequila (2 for each of us during the course of the evening.) We were seated in front of a table of rowdy, drunk guys who proceeded to cheer every time they downed the multiple shots they were doing. I can't believe they did not get kicked out. The restaurant was loud anyway and with the dudes it was practically impossible to have a conversation. By the time our food came I pretty much just wanted to eat and leave. We had grilled octopus, a house salad, free bread, and rigatoni with vodka sauce. It had shrimp and asparagus and between me and my date we shared it and didn't finish it. Huge portion. Really great food. It is unfortunate they don't value their guests enough to cultivate a civilized dining atmosphere. This is a hole in the wall that truly lives up to the name and I don't think I will be back.

4/12/2015

Loved this neighborhood gem. We walked in without reservations and were greeted by a "let's get down to business" host. Without the luxury of a reservation (call in only, no new age OpenTable voodoo) we were outcasted to a 2-seater by the bar and next to the Men's john. Who's ready to eat?!

We enjoyed a generous pour of wine and a loaf of bread and olive oil as we settled in. The waitstaff reminded me of Erie Cafe and Gene and Georgetti- you are here, you are family, nothing fancy, let's get to it.  

The pollo ponzio and pollo Italiano were both tasty. The chocolate cake (if you have room) was good not great. Small slice but that just means we wanted more so how much can I complain?

If you desire to continue your night, head next door to Richards (it's the bar your grandfather frequented during his navy days) or walk across the street to The Dawson for a more contemporary scene. Otherwise, walk off the carbs, head east to take in the skyline at night and enjoy another perfect Chicago spring evening.

10/26/2014

Step one: Go here.
Step two: Order the pasta with Vodka sauce.
Step three: Prepare for a very authentic, very delicious meal, that makes you feel not only like a local, but like a member of a specialized enclave of Chicago.

Because I was the lone lady with five guys our server kept calling me Queen, which of course, I loved. I had a cocktail to start and then we had a bottle of wine between us, nothing special, just an Italian table wine but it was perfect. We also shared a three desserts between us, which were all delicious, but if you just have to pick one, I'd say cannoli or spumoni.

The decor, at least where we were sitting was sort of a cross between neighborhood restaurant (pictures of customers from over the years) and teenage boys' room (boob posters, a transformer head which was super cool and actually from the movie), etc. Just a total, wonderful trip.

3/28/2015

La Scarola has a ton of old world charm and delicious Italian food. The menu has a large variety of appetizers, salads, soups, entrees, pastas and desserts.  There was also a nice list of specials on a separate piece of paper. We started with the sausage and peppers appetizer ($7.95). I had the Linguine and Clams in a red sauce ($20.95) and my wife had the Veal Marsala ($24.95). Everything was really great and the portions were plenty for lunch the next day. We will definitely be back very soon. I think it would be a nice place to bring out of town guests.

• 

  Veal Marsala

  Veal Marsala
• 

  Linguine and Red Clam Sauce

  Linguine and Red Clam Sauce

3/6/2015

I'm sure there was some mafia activity here based on the old school decor along with some sports and celebrity photos on the wall.

The service was very professional and accommodating.

The Food:

Garlic Spinach: I recommend!

Calamari: crunchy, sweet and tender.

Sausage and Peppers: sausages were pretty standard as you'd get elsewhere but I did  like the scorched green peppers.

Veal Parmesan: Disappointing. Soggy with way too much cheese.

The menu has a lot of tempting choices so I'd go back to try another entree.

4/30/2015

I was here recently with some friends before heading to the UC for a Hawks game.  I love this place!  I've been here numerous times through the years and it never disappoints.

If you've never been here, be warned: it is busy, cramped, and loud.  All three add to the experience ... in a good way.

On this most recent visit I ordered the Chicken Vesuvio.  It was delicious!  My only complaint (and this is nit-picky) - the plate was too small for the portion I received.  My chicken was piled-up on top of potatoes making it difficult to cut without food falling off my plate.  

Service was impeccable.  As always.  

La Scarola provides great food, great service, and a great atmosphere!

7/12/2015

I ordered La Scarola through DoorDash for delivery and it was awesome! Authentic dishes and really good ingredients. The escarole and beans dish was so yummy. I will be going back and visiting the restaurant instead!

7/11/2015

top notch. The ambience, service and decorum are exceptional and only surpassed by the food. You can't go wrong with any of the pasta dishes.

8/5/2015

Place is great if your idea of good Italian is the Olive Garden. The Chicken Vesuvio people rave about is a joke and the staff is clueless. Do yourself a favor and go to a real Italian place in Chicago there are many that are actually authentic.

4/14/2015

I went to La Scarola with my family - brothers, wives, gfs etc - after seeing a movie.  We all had a great experience.  Food was great - larger portions that I expected, but they prepared well the following day or so for lunch.  The restaurant has a warm and lively atmosphere.  They had kitchy wall art, but came off genuine instead of contrived.

Will go again

9/30/2014

Yep, I'm giving you 4 stars even though we had a 45 minute wait for our reserved table. La Scarola is an itty bitty place packed to the brim with tables. We were a group of 10 awkwardly waiting in the way of all the hustle and bustle. The manager felt so bad he brought us rounds of whiskey and lemon drop shots. When we finally sat down, they offered us three free appetizers to make up for the mess of a dinner reservation. We had the bruschetta, fried zucchini and grilled calamari. I'd read such great things on here about the calamari, I was quite disappointed when ours was overcooked (this is where I deducted the fifth star). After delicious bread and appetizers our main dishes came out right away. The pasta dishes are huge. I can't imagine a grown man finishing a whole plate. They had a wide range of pricing-something for everyone. I was able to get 3 more meals out of my leftovers so you definitely get your money's worth. I really enjoyed how my Macaroni Arrabiata was the perfect amount of spicey.

All in all, the service was great and the food was delicious. I'll be back!

• 

  Macaroni Arriabata

  Macaroni Arriabata

2/14/2015

I've been here before and we thought the food was pretty great. we decided to go this year on valentines day, so I made a reservation about a month ago.

Called today and they said they didn't have my reservation but to just come in and they'd seat me. After hanging up I realized that if they're gonna just seat me, I would really feel more comfortable with a res. called them back and explained, the guy did not understand so gave the phone to someone else without updating this new guy, so I had to explain myself a second time. This guy tells me he won't make a reservation for me but I can call back in 2 hrs and try w the manager. Sorry but that's terrible customer service. They made the mistake and now are asking me to chase them around. No thanks. Won't be eating there tonight or ever again. Food isn't good enough to put up with this- you're not schwa.

3/20/2015

You have to try this place.  Family style sizing and great food.  Love the pictures on the walls and service as well.  My favorite is the chicken and garlic pasta.  Oh good for lunch

3/16/2015

The fried calamari wasn't my favorite, but the Penne alla Vodka was phenomenal. Who would have thought of throwing asparagus in there? Dee-lish.

Definitely not over the top (which I love). Straight-to-the-business staff. They are not there to impress, but to do their job, which is to be attentive, and ensuring you leave happy and ridiculously full (with leftovers in hand). Charmy; feels like your Gram-Gram is going to pop out of the back kitchen and force-feed you spoonfuls of fattening risotto. Miss you Gram-Gram, but La Scarola will have to do.

Still craving the "homey establishment" vibe post-La Scarola? Walk two steps down to Richard's for a cheap beer and great company. These two make for a perfect night.

4/2/2015

Phenomenal Italian food!  Great atmosphere and service, too!  We had appetizers, a main course, and dessert and they ALL were legitimately good!

4/12/2015

Everything was great! We started with the fried zucchini and broccoli salad. The salad was great! We got the vodka penne, linguini and clams, and meat lasagna. All of them were delicious! We ended dinner with tiramisu and a cannoli. They even put a candle in the dessert since it was for a birthday. The service was pretty good and we would def all go back again. Not to mention, huge portions!

• 

  Linguini and clams with white sauce

  Linguini and clams with white sauce
• 

  Meat lasagna

  Meat lasagna
• 

  Penne vodka

  Penne vodka

9/7/2014

Went to La Scarola last night and it was quite possibly the best meal I've ever had at a restaurant in Chicago.

We had a 9pm reservation and had to wait a few minutes after we arrived.

It was well worth the wait as we were told by people that were leaving while we were waiting.

Started off with the Shrimp Armani.  The shrimp were big and the potatoes were fucking delicious.

Had the Grilled Calamari appetizer next.  The size of the dish was perfect for sharing and it was also very very good.

For our entrees I had the Linguini and Clams with white sauce and she had the Sea Bass special.  Both dishes were absolutely delicious.  I'm not even going to bother describing them.  Wouldn't do any justice.

Finished with a tasty Canolli for dessert.

Can't wait to go back and try more things on the menu.

My new favorite spot in Chicago.

5 big stars for La Scarola.

8/18/2014

Not a good date place. Pretty loud and cramped. Probably not good for kids either. We had the calamari appetizer which would have been good if not for the bitter burnt garlic flavor it had. I had the gnocchi and sausage special. The sausage overpowered the entire dish and the gnocchi was not so good. Plus all the grease from the meat pooled at the bottom of the dish. My friend had the spaghetti with ricotta meatballs which was pretty delicious. The red sauce tasted fresh and had great flavor. I'd say for the price it may not be worth it.

• 

  Gnocchi with sausage

  Gnocchi with sausage
• 

  Calamari

  Calamari

1/1/2015

Visited Chicago for the NZ v USA Rugby match. Match outcome aside it was a great trip and La Scarola was part of the greatness. It fit expectations a relatively small, local Italian restaurant. Pictures everywhere of visiting celebrities pack the walls. The wait staff was amicable and prompt. For the meal we started off with the Grilled Octopus which I believe was a special. That was very good and might not be what you'd expect. Next the shrimp and mashed potatoes as another app. For entree I had the Sea Bass special which again was great. Unfortunately I've lost track of the wine we had but as I recall the selection was good. Overall a great pick.

12/30/2014

Not only is the food spectacular and authentic... The staff offers exceptional customer service! Definitely feel like part of the family in a small Italian kitchen at home!

• 

  Cannoli and cappuccino great way to end a great meal!

  Cannoli and cappuccino great way to end a great meal!
• 

  The bruschetta has this fresh lime taste yet the crunchy bread stays crunchy! Huge portions!

  The bruschetta has this fresh lime taste yet the crunchy bread stays crunchy! Huge portions!
• 

  Best ravioli healthy portion and the spinach and sauce are so fresh!

  Best ravioli healthy portion and the spinach and sauce are so fresh!

2/26/2015

Good little Italian hole in the wall. waiters are mostly all Italian. The menu is great and they have daily specials that were written on a piece of paper. Tiramisu was delish.

I actually broke my shoe while we were walking out, and one of the waiters helped me staple it back together so I could at least walk outside to a cab!

4/7/2014

I have had a love/hate relationship with this place for years. I know most of my friends list this high on their list of personal favorites. I just don't feel the same love I once did. I took some time away from here. I thought maybe I had just grown tired of it. I don't think that's the case. I was underwhelmed all over again.

You need to know that its always packed here. Reservations mean nothing. You will just be told to head next door and drink for a while. This tends to lead to very drunk girls dining here. I cant tell you how many fights I've witnessed at surrounding tables here. I cant blame the poor girls that have probably been drinking on an empty stomach for well over an hour.

The service is all about rushing you out the door. Its just not my thing. The food is good. It's not at all my personal favorite though. The fact that I can easily name 5 other places I prefer keeps me from dealing with the service here.

If you are eating here I would check out the specials or stick with pasta. I have always been really disappointed with chicken and veal here.

4/30/2015

Solid meal. The decor is nothing fancy but personally I like the atmosphere. Smaller place, peer "table cloths", etc. You get the picture. My son and I seem to always get the same dish no matter where we go. We both had the pasta arrabiata (spicy) with seafood and loved it. Sauce was very rich and tasty.  And to be honest after 2 bottles of Sangiovese that's all I remember aside from  basic appetizers such as the calamari which did not disappoint. Again, nothing fancy here just good straight forward Italian food. Solid choice and after you can always go next door to Richards for a drink.

3/24/2014

I visited La Scarola for the first time yesterday. I read on Yelp that the dress was casual which is very much accurate.  Pictures of the owner with celebrities decorate most of the walls. There is a mural of italian houses and even that has photos of groups in the windows.

The service was good Nothing horrible nor outstanding. They brought out bread immediately. It always disappoints me when an italian restaurant or any restaurant for that matter doesn't serve bread fresh out of the oven. The bread was pretty soft though even though it wasn't hand warming fresh.

We started with the clams mondeli which are baked clams with breadcrumb mix on top. These were delicious. A good breadcrumb to clam ratio and the clam was cooked just right.

I had the special pasta sinatra. It was penne with vodka sauce, mussels, shrimp, scallops and mushrooms.  The seafood was cooked perfectly! Not at all chewy , rubbery it was perfecto! The sauce was very creamy and well adhered to the penne. There was not a pool of left over sauce that I can swipe my penne over but the amount of sauce was sufficient enough. If you see this dish on the menu, I highly recommend it.

The portions were enough for us to take home and probably make another meal out of it. With 2 glasses of wine, an app, two entrees, tax an tip out bill came out to $95. Pretty steep but I think it's a good special occasion italian restaurant.

12/13/2014

This is definitely my new favorite Italian restaurant. I had the vodka pasta and my boyfriend got the linguini fruti di mare. Mine were ok, but Him's were really good. What I liked the most is that the seafood was very fresh which makes a lot of diference in the taste. The service was very nice also.

• 

  Vodka pasta and seafood pasta(spicy)

  Vodka pasta and seafood pasta(spicy)

9/6/2014

Oh my, they have the yummiest appetizers!  Their GRILLED (not fried) CALAMARI is the BOMB! And that chubby meaty mussels in white sauce! Ooooh they just melted in my mouth. Just perfection! I may be super hungry then, but I swear they were the best calamari and mussels I've ever had!

Their entrees were delicious as well, but I still cant get over how amazing the appetizers were!

Make sure to make reservation as the place gets crowded fast. Even with reservation, you might still have to wait a little bit.

ILL BE BACK!

5/29/2014

WoW !!! I want to say , i Love Chicago's Italian Food !!
La Scarola offered a hand written menu, very traditional and special. We ordered the GRILLED CALAMARI as appetizer, the best calamari I have ever had. It serves with Balsamic and lemon. It was super tender and flavorful. Perfectly crispy. Delicious, Perfect, Amazing, Yummy !!! I ordered PASTA SINATRA as main dish, penne with fresh favorable shrimp, mussels, and scallops. It coated perfectly with a vodka ream sauce. It was pretty heavy and filling. (Please share) Italian food in Chi-Town is literally better than L.A. !!! I love it so much !! I will be back !!!! o . m . g.

4/26/2015

This place is small but the service is great and the food is YUMMY and totally worth it. I will definitely be returning for the sea bass and ADDICTING pasta and flavor.

4/24/2014

In town for a work meeting and needed to pull together a dinner for 10.  Started yelping up options a month in advance and decided on this place.  When I arrived, my first thought was, "old school itallian".  I wanted a seat where Michael Corleone couldn't wack me coming out of the head.  The walls are covered with celeb picks (some not with us anymore) so I'm figuring this would work.

We went with a variety of starters, fried zucchini, grilled octopus & calimari, bruschetta, etc.  Love the hand written specials and it wasn't long before we were presented with our apps.  The grilled octopus was amazing.  Very tender, perfectly done with a smokey flavor.  If I had a straw, I would have finished off the juices left on the platter.

On to the main course... My peeps went with a variety of dishes.  The sea bass got rave reviews as did the risotto special.  I chose the Vitello di Franco.  What a great dish.  Lightly breaded, thin pounded veal accompanied by asparagus, diced tomatoes and a thin layer of melted multi cheese mix.  Wonderful, slightly salty flavors, lovely texture from the veggies and a portion size that would make a glutton blush.

The service was outstanding.  Our server was knowledgable and attentive.  The fact that our dinners arrived simultaneously from a relatively small kitchen was impressive.

Great old school Italian.  When I'm back in town, this is a definite revisit.

3/4/2015

Good food with serious portions and really classic family style feel. Definitely make a reservation because this place gets packed. Even when you get seated, it will be tight and there is a lot of hustle and bustle all over the place.  Went with a group of 6 and it was definitely a bit difficult to hang around the very small bar before we got seated. Once seated though, it was comfortable and the service was good. Menu is extensive and the food is tasty. Great place to go for a traditional Italian meal.

4/5/2014

I dined at La Scarola nearly a year ago on a short trip to Chicago and still can't get it out of my head :). Counting down the days until the next trip...  

Our party tried a number of things and I was smart enough to go with the waiter recommendations from the entree to the wine. We had pasta with spicy tomato sauce, angel hair pasta with clams, Chilean Sea Bass and we finished with gelato and tiramisu.

The staff was accommodating and fun and the ambiance was great. Can't wait to go back.

• 

  Our main entrees from an incredible dinner!

  Our main entrees from an incredible dinner!

9/28/2014

OMG the grilled calamari here. I could have it as an appetizer and an entree. From the calamari to the cannoli, everything here is amazing. The hardest part is deviating from what I always get!

4/7/2015

I would imagine if I were to visit italy it would taste like this. I would first like to say that my group of 14 was seated promptly.  The waiters were very attentive but not to the point of us feeling like we were being rushed. The only other place that had pasta better than La Scarola was a small restaurant in the restaurant district in New York. This is how  pasta is supposed to taste, very very creamy. We shared each other plates and the Penne alla  vodka was right on point. This is a very cool spot where a person could dine solo and feel very comfortable. The calamari and tiramisu were fantastic. Kudos  to the chef and all the waiters that assisted us. We were there Saturday April 4th.

2/7/2014

Went there last night with my date for dinner. I had passed by so many times in the past and never stopped so last night was the night. Even on a Thursday night, the place was packed. It has an old-world Italian charm and quirky layout due to building, like Richards next store.

We had Joey's salad for two which was good and shared the angel hair with clams and shrimp (She took the clams, I took the shrimp!). There were plenty of clams and just the right amount of shrimp. The sauce was very good as was the bread. We paired it with my favorite Chianti Classico. For desert, cannolis from Damatos down the street, so it was good.

Great place for a special occasion or date.

6/26/2015

Great old school Italian by Joey Mondelli (formerly of Kelly Mondelli's on Clark Street in the old days, that served up all the celebrities of the day, and now does so here).  Off all beaten paths west on Grand you will find this intimate sized, barely decorated, and clearly not built-to-suit Italian restaurant, that is more laid out meg-shift - adding charm and down home feel.  It has been there for years and so speaks to all those who appreciate the 'if its not broke don't fix it' philosophy.  The chairs are metal and vinyl, the tables are white cloth, the walls are jammed with celebrity photos from the present and days gone by, mixed, to my liking, with Chicago Film Festival posters by photographer Victor Skrebneski, who included Joey Mondelli in one of his coffee table books.  You enter directly into the best part of the restaurant to eat, the bustling square room of tables with the open kitchen in the back round.  Watch them all come in and be greeted and treated, fascinating.  Or you will be escorted to the bar to wait, a 10 foot run of counter with no seats, that separates the two other dining rooms, narrow and windowless, comfortable and cozy.  You may then be sat opposite a long table (sometimes 30 or more people long) of those celebrating an occasion or from out of town for a convention who got the word, this is the place in Chicago for real Italian food with no frills.  The menu is extensive with truly unique Italian comfort items, not new age, more just real Italy un-Americanized, so in that way new to us, like stuffed baked clams done right and sautéed escarole with white beans, yum.  Then march down the variations of chicken, veal and pastas with seafood to boot, all engorged with flavor from a variety of sauces and vegetable concoctions.  The wine list is basic, making the experience all the more our favorite place to repeat on every Sunday we can, and get our 'usual wine' and our 'favorite appetizers' and then due the vast menu, try a new entrée every time or one of their incredible specials which are so appealing.  Armando roams the restaurant as if a fellow patron just passing through, but then he stops at your table, plunks down shot glasses and pours ... salute, bam...then he is off to get busy again. What can you say to that...?  Try this place and it will be part of your rotation too.  Of course they are not on Open Table, so call for a reservation to be sure.  Thanks Joey and Armando, you guys got it going on.

4/9/2015

In town with our family of four from Tennessee seeking authentic Italian, Chicago style. This is the place. Like Goodfellas. So unassuming from the street you almost can't find it, but make sure you do. Seated fast, but food takes a while so alot enough time. A word of caution - the portions are HUGE, especially pasta dishes, so we wasted $$ since we couldn't keep leftovers in our hotel. The Pasta Lorenzo was absolutely WONDERFUL - everyone else at my table ate off my plate, it was the fave!

3/29/2015

Get the House spaghetti!  Omg! So good. The service is great. The dishes are flavorful and it's not too expensive for downtown Chicago and some truly authentic itlalian. My wife ordered thr Shrimp Armani in a red sauce served on a bed of potatoes. So good!  I highly recommend if you're craving some Coma food.

4/1/2015

Everything is amazing here especially the staff.  Armando and Joey are amazing.  I haven't been there in a little while.  I miss you, and hope business is doing well.

11/21/2014

As a recently departed Chicago resident I can only say I and my wife miss this place. Armando the owner is a great host, the food is awesome and yeah its busy! Know why? Cause the food , the charm and the whole ambience of a local downtown Italian restaurant is beyond awesome!!! From great grilled calamari openers to a fabulous Lake superior whitefish you cannot go wrong on the menu items. The wait staff is very accommodating nd the food arrives with pretty awesome precision given the fact the place is generally packed from 7 onwards.
If I ever am lucky enough to call Chicago home again, we will rejoin the regulars at this superb downtown institution.
Thank you for the memories 2010 to 2014 Armando and team !

4/4/2015

Had the linguine with clams and white sauce.  Portion is great relative to the price of the dish.  There are several fresh, whole clams with many chopped up ones forming the base.  It's not garlicy, but definitely more buttery than I'm used to with what is traditionally a watery wine sauce.  In summary, I'd come back again.

9/28/2014

Nice. Can't write anything substantial yet but I will come back to dine here again and write a complete review.

• 

  Finally... real olive oil

  Finally... real olive oil

6/12/2015

The ambiance is a bit old school and lack-luster, but the food is definitely authentic Italian.  I have some positives and some negatives to share.  We started with the shrimp Armani, which is absolutely to die for!  It may be one of my favorite dishes ever.  For the entree, Two of us had the veal chop.  They were accommodating and served it with sautéed spinach instead of the potatoes it was supposed to come with.  It was pounded super thin, was really tender, and had a great garlicky flavor, but it was extremely greasy.  It's supposed to be lightly breaded and pan fried in olive oil, but this thing was absolutely soaked in oil, and almost tasted deep fried.  I ended up scraping the breading off of mine and eating just the meat.  My other friend had the Pollo Alla Pasquinelli, an amazing chicken dish!  Very flavorful and delicious.  No complaints here.  We ended our meal with the tiramisu.  Again, authentic and delicious.  Now...when we were getting our check, the waiter told us that they don't split checks.  What is this 1989??  Every restaurant I've ever been to or worked at could separate checks.  And the best part is that the checks are hand-written and calculated with an adding machine.  It's not like he had to worry about a computer system or anything!  I mean, come on, just use 3 pieces of paper dude!  When we asked him to speak with the manger, he gave us attitude and told us there wasn't one.  Really?  We could see that the owner was sitting a few tables away.  Once we pointed that out, he was suddenly able to separate our checks.  Hmmm, interesting.  Anyway, the food was pretty great, but the service could use some improvement, hence the 3 stars.

3/17/2015

It was awful the pasta gnocchi was dreadful not authentic chewy and gummy. Not worth the effort!

1/4/2014

I'm sad to hear that some yelpers had a not-so-pleasant experience at La Scarola. It is one of my favorite spots! Having dined there on multiple occasions and for years, the food has always been delicious! And growing up with a chef father, my family tends to be a bit critical when dining out.

At La Scarola I will typically order a seafood dish from the daily specials menu. The Chilean Sea Bass has been a go-to for me whenever it is offered. My husband always prefers something a little spicy and has enjoyed the plentiful Pasta Lorenzo many times.  The antipasti was fresh and the grilled octopus is ALWAYS tender. Oh, and if you're up for it (and very hungry) try the veal scallopini!

Don't skip dessert either - nothing polishes off an Italian meal like cappuccino and a cannoli :)

La Scarola may not have the bells and whistles of a fancy-shmancy restaurant but the food and service keep me, my friends and my family coming back time and time again.

Be sure to look at the old pictures on the walls, too. A night out to La Scarola isn't only a dining experience, it's like being a part of Chicago history. Yes, you may have to wait awkwardly for your table (even with a reservation) but that is becoming typical in Chicago no matter where you go. The difference here is that once you are seated you will feel very welcomed!

Until next time...

• 

  Pasta Lorenzo (spicy!)

  Pasta Lorenzo (spicy!)
• 

  Chilean Sea Bass

  Chilean Sea Bass

10/8/2014

Pass on the salad (made with a slightly oily Italian dressing) & go straight for the pasta!! But definitely don't forget the grilled octopus appetizer.
The capellini fra diavolo is delicious - not too spicy tomato sauce, giant shrimp, and a TON of pasta. The tiramisu is moist, not the lightest, but a great end note.
Reservations are a must. Small space with huge flavor!